Never actually realised how good this show was over-all but after reading the reviews how could that many people be wrong??? I was there at the Garden for the first Stephen of 83 and this one is also amazing for sure...Birds eye view of the stage from 17 rows back. I was barely over the MSG version and was treated to this one only days later. And I love Dire Wolf!!!.. Listening now. I love this show. Loved it then love it now... Grateful Dead man!!! Does it get any better?

How beautiful, Bob and Jerry on the same planet during space.....

Beats out the night before due to an iffy and inconsistent first set from that night...THIS one is absolutely beautiful -

Set 1 - Stranger, Big RxR Blues, Let It Grow - all incredible, all leading, all clearly defined in that space reserved for the chest-thumping few at the top. This is an Alpha Set 1.

Set 2 - One long, gorgeous suite - China Cat > Rider is a masterpiece; listen to Bobby transition between Rider and Playin', and again in Space - he really did bring it the table tonight, subtle and so, so clear in this mix. Jerry is simply out of control this night.

This one should have been chosen for release over the previous night, good as that 2nd set was from the 14th. But I guess we're fortunate it wasn't, because we get to stream and enjoy it here on the archive.

First show 7/31/74... Last show JFK 1995.... but this was the last great one... '85 had some highs, but also some lows... '86 a major disappointment capped with almost losing Jerry... Some great moments in '87, but didn't make any shows where they strung 2 great sets together.... from there, it was more about being with my buddies than the music... always fun... even down the home stretch for Jerry... but never like this night... Even though the night before had that monstrously wonderful Scarlet/Fire, this night ripped that one from limb to limb... Even if they hadn't dropped St. Stephen, this was THE NIGHT to be in Hartford... BRRB, TMNS, amazing China Doll... great PITB... post drumz space laced with energy.... even Day Job and Throwning Stones were pumped up versions... And to send us home to the sweet strains of Brokedown Palace... .Yes, this was a night you could honestly and proudly say, "There's NOTHING like a Grateful Dead concert" God bless Jerry. I know he's resting in peace :)

And then they played St. Stephen

This was just a tremendous show. The eighties were not the greatest of times. And Hartford was never the greatest of venues. They were sizzling this night. No other way to put it. I dont know, but I could swear Pigpen was around somewhere. The show had that feel to it.

I've seen hundreds of shows...but who is counting? I can tell you that without question the China Doll was one of the most memorable tunes I ever heard them play. And that's a lot of tunes by the way.

This is just an amazing site. I'm glad I found it!

No doubt best of the (3) Stephens. Its still hard to compare to the first, since MSG was lifting up into the air like a giant spinning ship, and people were literally writhing on the floor in utter glee... (everybody's playing in the heart of gold band beyond description) But in Hartford, they seemed more prepared for the musical intricacies and audience reciprocation. Beautiful, lilting acidic show, (sweet China Doll) with heights only St. Stephen can deliver.

Sound qual excellent.

Wow, what a night.
The scarlet fire the night before was so awesome, as was the whole show...but always and everwhere thought turned towards the mighty St Stephen- would it be unleashed again?
The China Rider- fine version, then off into a monumental Playin, wavy psychedelic and mystic, one of the finest i have heard, live or other, and then resolving into a slow, poignantly beautiful China Doll- rarely heard in 83 as I recall. Then rhythm devils/ space gradually wound down, and Garcia began hinting Stephen, teasing it back and forth, up and down, more and more over several minutes- listen to it, yuo will understand how the entire place was on edge, listening to every note, waiting breathlessly.

I had heard Stephen emerge, ALMOST, then fade into NFA at Red Rocks the previous year, so all the teasing in the world did not mean to me they would actually do it.
Listen as the Garcia comes closer and closer to the opening of Stephen, but still holds back from final launch , until..a series of notes suddenly has pushed it over the edge, the actual opening notes of Stephen has been played, NOW there can be no turning back...there is a hush, a shock wave passes through the auditorium, and then... the wave breaks over the stunned, delerious crowd in a vast roar of pure ecstacy, howling in delight, which continued for the rest of the song- SAINT STEPHEN- just so awesome!

Att he end, it was a little bit of a downer they did not make the obvious decision to go into NFA next, but perhaps it would have been TOO good, we might have seen heads exploding with that level of over amped musical joy and madness.

There are no highlights in this one because the whole show is Flippin Fantastic! Highly energetic. Even the Day Job (nobodys favorite song)is white hot. How Dick picked the previous night over this show I'll never know. This show is in my top 10 best Dead shows period. I highly recommend picking this one up.

Sound A-
Performance A++

For some reason I have always been reluctant to dive into the early/mid 80s. However, in my search for shows from years I don't have in my collection I came across this gem. First set is really nasty. Jerry's voice sounds way haggard (was he sick? heroin? dunno), but unlike much later shows he exerts enough effort to overcome it and it sounds wicked raw. It makes Dire Wold especially intense. The Stranger jam takes a little bit to get rolling, but it builds up to a peak unlike any i've heard before, really great stuff. Brent sticks with the rhodes during the verse, so if you're a huge fan of those synth lines like me you may be slightly disappointed:)

China doll, which can be quite the pandora's box, is pulled off nicely here. And the Stephen is much higher energy than most late 70's versions even with that deliberate coked-out tempo.

While I know nothing about '83, I'm sure this is a good place to start and essential for this year.

Totally agree w/ stratocaster - best of '83. Very cool show.

Best show of 1983. Decent enough sounding source as to not detract from the quality of performance

Fantastic first set features top notch versions of every tune. Feel/ Stranger is hot and Dire Wolf is tight and twangy. Big RxR Blues is one of the best Dead versions ever. Let it Grow is huge.

Garcia continues stepping out in the second set and the band really comes together with awesome readings of China>Rider and Playin'...China Doll is nicely done...coming out of one of better drums>space segments of the period, the boys give us the best of the 83' Stephens.

This is an essential early 80s performance to have in anyone's Dead collection

Start to finish this has the goods. The drummers interplay is sublime and punchy, taking the whole show in a groovin direction.

the sound quality is superb, and has been getting regular rotation.

check it out

This is an incredible show. I give it a 4 for sound and 5+ for the performance. The sound may not be perfect, but musicly it is! It's not just because of the St. Stephen, the band was completely together, especially for the 2nd set. Also, it was the best St. Stephen of the three played (MSG, Hartford, & Marin County) - listen to them all for yourself.

I was a young dead fan at this show, but I'll never forget it!

Along with the novelty of St. Stephen, this show has imaginative playing throughout the second set. The intro to PITB seems like a one of a kind, and the Space rocks much more than usual. Also, it has the tightest version of Day Job I've encountered.

The great thing about living in New England and being into the band, they came to the area on each and every tour! Another great part about living in New England, New York City is less then four hours away... The cool part about that is, I saw the Stephen in NYC, bowled me over for sure... In Hartford you could see it coming from the first notes of China Doll. Pat and I situated in a great spot to see the rows of fans explode out of their seats. Very Cool! This rendition of Stephen you can really hear BrentÃÂs playing, he was helping to paint the musical canvas and the fellahs all took it home, so very righteous!